Taking place at Parliament House in Canberra, and co-hosted by Education Minister Jason Clare, the Awards ceremony honoured two categories of winners – Early Career Teachers and Teaching Fellows.
Twelve outstanding teachers received a 12-month Teaching Fellowship, recognising their unwavering dedication towards improving the educational opportunities for their students, and their transformational impact in their schools and communities.
Valued at $40,000, the Teaching Fellowship includes $25,000 for a strategic school project and a unique professional learning program.
Ten teachers who have demonstrated leadership and innovation in their first five years of the profession received the Early Career Teaching Award.
This year’s winners receive an ECT Scholarship valued at $10,000, including $5000 for professional development and an exclusive learning and mentoring program.
In his speech, Clare acknowledged the wonderful achievement of this year’s winners.
“Tonight, we get a chance to recognise the extraordinary work of 22 teachers – 22 selected out of 500 teachers shortlisted for these awards,” he said.
“But the truth is, you represent an even larger group.
“There are more than 300,000 teachers in primary schools and high schools who shape, change and create the people we become.”
Clare went on to explain that in the coming weeks, the Federal Government will also make good on a promise made in the 2022 election – to roll out new Commonwealth teacher scholarships.
“They’ll be worth up to $40,000 and they are designed to encourage more young people to become a teacher,” he said.
“And just like the Commonwealth teacher scholarships of old, there’s a commitment that will come with it. In return for the $40,000, a commitment to teach for a number of years.”
The minister also explained that he wants to change the way the nation thinks about its teachers, and the way teachers perceive the country’s view of them.
“A recent survey of Australian teachers found only about 39 per cent thought the work they did was valued by the community,” he shared.
“But in places like Singapore, that figure is more like 68 per cent. They’ve got a line out the door at university of people wanting to become teachers.
“I want more young Australians to want to be a teacher. To be like [my Cabramatta Public School teacher] Mrs. Fry. To be like you. To be to be that teacher.
“That teacher that inspires, that changes lives.
“And in a few months’ time, you’ll see a campaign online, on bus stops, on billboards and in shopping centres.”
While many of last year’s Commonwealth Bank Teacher Award recipients were recognised for supporting students as they transitioned from remote learning back to in-person learning in the classroom, the 2023 award recipients, shortlisted from more than 500 educators, are receiving accolades for their work in empowering students through personalised educational strategies, developing supportive wellbeing programs, and setting them up for success in a rapidly evolving technological environment.
Some of the highlights from this year’s cohort include learning initiatives translating genuine industry knowledge into the classroom, developing future-focused co-curricular and STEM programs, and spearheading research into new educational frameworks that have been rolled out across multiple institutions.
The common theme which emerged across all finalists, however, was their ingenuity, compassion and commitment to their students, and education equity.
“The Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards have a decorated history of recognising the impact educators have on their students and school communities,” Nathan Barker, Head of Community Investment at Commonwealth Bank, said.
“This year’s teachers demonstrated incredible dedication towards developing the leaders of tomorrow and equipping them for future success.”
Rural students, families and teachers face inherent complexities, including limited access to support services, IT, resources, staff professional development, and opportunities for students. Fellowship winners like Dr Annette Morphett, however, are providing passionate and vocal advocacy for equity and excellence in rural education.
The awards are supported by national non-profit Schools Plus, which empowers teachers and school leadership teams with funding and resources to help them create sustainable change for their students.
“We are truly inspired by the outstanding efforts of our esteemed teaching award winners in 2023,” Schools Plus CEO Rosemary Conn said.
“Their passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to educational excellence has set a new benchmark for our teaching community.
“These exceptional educators embody the spirit of innovation, empowerment, and nurturing that raises the bar in education.
“Together we celebrate their remarkable achievements as positive change makers shaping opportunities for children, young people, and society.”
The 2023 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards winners are:
Early Career Teachers:
- Abbey Tamsen, Marsden State High School, Qld
- Jessica Mumford, Laynhapuy Homelands School, NT
- Joshua Barden, Emmaville Central School, NSW
- Laura White, McClelland Secondary College, Vic
- Lauren Warschauer, Byford Secondary College, WA
- Madison Smith, Monterey Secondary College, Vic
- Matthew Millikin, Marist College Canberra, ACT
- Nadine Stapleton, South Hedland Primary School, WA
- Rosie Connelly, Playford Primary School, SA
- Seamus Kavanagh, Richmond High School, Vic
Teaching Fellows:
- Annette Morphett, St Mary Mackillop School, SA
- Brett Dascombe, Wavell State High School, Qld
- Carly Barnes, The Grove Education Centre, SA
- Conor Fennell, Katherine High School, NT
- Jade Foster, Mount Tarcoola Primary School, WA
- Jaynelle Le Feuvre, Central Yorke School, SA
- Kiri Griffiths, Loganlea State High School, Qld
- Lien Chai, Lansvale Public School, NSW
- Matthew Esterman, Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta, NSW
- Michael West, Bellbird Park State Secondary College, Qld
- MJ Raatz, Forest Lake State High School, Qld
- Sara Curtis, Marsden State High School, Qld
The 2023 winners join a distinguished list of Alumni from six consecutive years, who have all been nationally recognised as leaders in their field, enabling equity in opportunity for children and young people in school communities across the country.
For more information on the Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards, click here.
